Daddy O!

It used to be that I’d ask the celebration to be moved to the weekend when I can actually go home and be there, but then again I realized that’s kinda selfish. When he was much younger, I remember our trips to the mall so I could let him pick his favorite toy, and he would just be excited when I paid for it. This year, I wanted to make up for my absence in a different way. Plus, my brother isn’t a baby anymore, and gadgets are his new toys. 

So on the eve of his birthday, I decided to send him a cash gift as a way to show my love. I sent this through my mom, to whom I’ve been making bank transfers for my monthly “remittance.” And it couldn’t be easier. 

See, I no longer go to banks now for my fund transfer errands. I just use my phone. The stress of enduring traffic, waiting for an hour in line, and being met by unsmiling tellers is something I never want to experience again, so I’ve been more dependent on my mobile wallet GCash. 

GCash has a Send Money to Bank Account Feature that sends money to recipients real-time. It’s also the most secure way I know to transfer money without going to a bank and making over-the-counter deposits.  

With GCash, you just open the app and make sure you have enough funds in your mobile wallet for the amount of money you want to transfer. You can do this by linking your bank account or cashing in at 7-Eleven or Bayad Center.  

For this particular transaction, I wanted to send him P3,000. Good thing a part of my 13th-month bonus is intact in my GCash wallet. I tapped Send Money to Bank and input my mom’s name and account number, then pressed send. Easy peasy!

I told my mom I had sent the cash. Two hours later, when I know my brother has come home, I got a text from my brother: “Thanks Kuya for the birthday gift.” The next day I learned he treated the family to Jollibee, both lunch and dinner. And, he told me he has downloaded GCash, too, so next time I can send gifts directly to his GCash account. I couldn’t help but laugh; only my brother would have the audacity to say that to me. 

But seriously, it couldn’t be easier to send happiness to our loved ones now.

With the goal of providing a Bigger & Better Christmas for all, LG combined Filipinos’ love for the holidays with the brand’s mission of always giving back to the community. In a media launch event recently held in One Canvas Events Place in Pasong Tamo, Makati, LG Philippines outlined the various initiatives they have lined up for the holiday season. 

The event started off with LGEPH Product Marketing Manager Angelica Dumlao discussing the Evolution of Picture Quality and how LG has taken great strides in pushing for technological innovation. “We can see the advancement and the evolutionary journey of how TV resolution and picture quality have improved in the last 20 years. The evolution from analog to digital television technology was a slow process, and it wasn’t even until the mid-1990s that HDTV broadcasting began. At that time, most HDTVs were plasma TVs, which were expensive, so HDTV adoption was slow. By the mid-2000s however, affordable 40-inch LCDs started to be sold. By the end of the decade, LCDs were outselling traditional (CRT) TVs as well as plasma TVs. Post HDTVs, companies started looking for newer technologies that could be offered to consumers. The last few years saw the arrival of curved screens, high dynamic range (HDR), smart TVs, OLED TVs, and 4K. Now with the hyper realistic detail and picture quality of 8K available to consumers.” She goes on to add “For us in LG, Life’s about more than having the latest technology. It’s about the experiences technology creates. We are a pacesetter in the industry and we will continue to deliver consumer electronics that let you embrace life and prepare you for its greatest moments.” 

Pushing forward with the holiday theme, the first gift that LG has for the community comes in the form of its partnership with Netflix. During the event, Netflix unveiled the streaming service’s holiday film headliner, Klaus. The trailer for the destined Christmas classic, together with its behind the scenes footage, were all screened with the use of LG’s award-winning OLED TVs, the purchase of which comes with an accompanying gift of 6 months of Netflix.

Klaus, the headliner for Netflix’s holiday lineup, is an entirely 2D animated movie, a Netflix first, that harkens to the old Christmas shows we’ve come to know and love. Legendary actor J. K. Simmons provides the voice for the titular Klaus, a reclusive carpenter whom Jesper discovers living alone in a cabin, where he makes his own handmade toys. Like the movies of yore, Netflix hopes that Klaus becomes a Christmas tradition that’s destined to be replayed every holiday season for the years to come. LG also invited the Animation Council of the Philippines, Inc. (ACPI) to share their thoughts on the use of 2D animation in Klaus, how LG OLED TVs are the best platform to view it on, as well as to discuss the state of the local animation industry as a whole.

As an early Christmas present for the organization, LG Philippines donated LG TV. Inkwun Heo, LG Philippines’ Managing Director, recognized the importance of the ACPI’s role in the local industry and how their influence shapes the evolution of picture quality. “With LG, we guarantee an unparalleled, memorable cinematic viewing experience. Through non-stop innovation, LG has been able to offer the best that technology has to offer, be it through our NanoCell or OLED TVs, or with the use of our ThinQ Artificial Intelligence. We want content creators such as ACP to have access to this technology so that they can pay it forward and share it with the community through their art.

Marlyn Montano, Vice President of the ACPI, graciously accepted the TV donation from LG. “Working in the animation industry, innovations in technology are important to us. To be able to compete with other animators from around the world, we need to be at the top. LG’s AI-optimized picture quality that boasts leading clarity, sharpness, detail and brightness is as advanced as you can get. This really helps us in harnessing the best of our abilities.” 

Another gift that LG has for the community during the holidays is the #ShareTheGoodLifewithLG campaign. As a way of giving back to the community, LG Philippines has dedicated a portion of each sale of an LG product to go towards furnishing the children of Shelter of Hope. 

More than that, LG has committed to donate home entertainment and home appliances worth more than Php 1Million. Shelter of Hope is currently building a new home for their resident children who are cancer patients and these gifts will provide much needed Christmas cheer. 

During the event, LG, Netflix, and the members of the media, in the spirit of Klaus, also brought gifts and toys to give to the children of Shelter of Hope. Just like what Klaus says, “A true selfless act, always sparks another.”

Towards the end of the event, long-time LG brand ambassador James Deakin enumerated the eight reasons why one should buy the award-winning OLED TVs, either as a holiday gift or even for oneself. 

Eight reasons why one should buy the award-winning OLED TVs

1. It’s the World's Best Selling OLED TV Brand for 6 consecutive years. Global sales and shipments prove that LG is, once again, the world’s best-selling brand for OLED TVs. 

2. LG’s ThinQ technology represents the evolution of TVs. AI-optimized picture quality that boasts leading clarity, sharpness, detail and brightness is delivered to viewers via comprehensive content and ambient light analysis. 

3. AI Picture, AI Sound, and AI Smart uses he most powerful 4K processor to optimize clarity, sharpness, sound. The 2nd generation α7 Intelligent Processor recognizes the quality of the original content and optimizes the clarity and sharpness. The light sensor detects ambient light and the AI automatically optimizes brightness in the image to keep a bright and sharp picture regardless of illuminance. With AI Sound, Get the best sound no matter how you have arranged your room and where you are sitting. With the technology recognizing your watching spot, you can fully enjoy the optimized sound. 

4. It has an IPS Panel for wide viewing angle - Wherever you sit, the IPS 4K panel’s wide viewing angle keeps you enthralled with spectacular realism—displaying almost 100% color accuracy, even from a 60-degree angle. 

5. It has Dolby Atmos, providing 360-degree surround sound. 

6. It has a 2-year warranty which safeguards your investment. 

7. The Magic Remote makes for easy and convenient TV navigation. 

8. It also has an Emergency Warning Broadcast System for nationwide alerts.

Want to have a Bigger & Better Christmas with LG? Aside from aforementioned proceeds going the Shelter of Hope, OLED and NanoCell TV purchases from today until December 15th come with a raffle ticket. Join the raffle and get a chance to win 1 of 10 LG TVS or Soundbars. And for the Grand Prize, you’ll have a chance to take home 65” OLED TV. The raffle draw will be on December 16. So, watch out and follow our social media accounts @lgphilippines for updates and announcements of winners.

#LGNetflix | #LGOLEDTV | #KLAUS | #TheTVThatUnderstandsYou

Ajinomoto Philippines Corporation (APC) participated in the 30th Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) Cebu Torch Run to show its support to Filipino Athletes who will compete from November 30 to December 10, 2019. 

Earlier this year, Ajinomoto Co., Inc. was among the first to become a Platinum sponsor for what is touted as the biggest SEA Games in history with a total of 56 sports and 523 events. This sponsorship is part of the company’s advocacy to realize greater wellness for people all around the world.

With its strong business presence and familiarity of local food cultures, APC seeks to help Filipinos achieve better quality of life through proper nutrition and maintaining active lifestyles. The company will introduce a new sports nutrition brand called aminoVITAL™. It is a jelly drink that contains 3,000mg of Branched Chain Amino Acid (BCAA) that can help reduce damage and fatigue caused by high-intensity training or strenuous physical activity. 

For more information about Ajinomoto and its products, visit www.ajinomoto.com.ph and facebook.com/CookmunitybyAjinomotoPH.

Sophia Reola, Chunsa Jung, and Marco Masa as the Brand Ambassadors during the launch of  AJI SAVOR™ ON RICE which was held at KidZania Manila.

Ajinomoto launches Calcium-rich Rice Topping Mix

In a bid to be the pioneer in providing rice topping mix in the Philippines, AJINOMOTO PHILIPPINES CORPORATION (APC) launched AJI SAVOR™ on Rice in a press conference in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. AJI SAVOR™ ON RICE is a delicious and affordable way to add calcium to one’s diet. Inspired by Japanese Furikake, this product contains a blend of ready-to-eat dried umami food ingredients, like malunggay leaves, toasted sesame seeds, and meaty beef or chicken flavored granules that is used to season rice. Each pack can be conveniently sprinkled and mixed in a cup of rice.

Kuya “Omurice” Sawa, a Japanese who went viral for selling omurice or fried rice omelette to help street children, was invited to co-host the event. Kuya san talked about the popularity of Furikake among Japanese children and his excitement about the launch of AJI SAVOR™ in the local market.

Since rice is a staple food in the Philippines, this product hopes to add more calcium into the diet of Filipinos. In its 8th National Nutrition Survey, the Food and Nutrition Research Institute recorded high inadequacies of calcium intake across all age groups. However, this is particularly alarming for younger population since calcium is one of the key nutrients required for proper growth and development. AJI SAVOR™ contains 385mg of calcium, which is comparable to the calcium you get in drinking a glass of milk.

Young celebrity endorsers, Chunsa Jung, Sophia Reola and Marco Masa are present during the JPOP and Kyaraben (Character Bento) Party organized by Ajinomoto. They led everyone to dance to the beat of the new AJI SAVOR™ jingle featured in the product’s TV Commercial. The jingle made use of the catchy PPAP (Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen) tune popularized by Japanese comedian Daimaou Kosaka. 

One of the event highlights is the Kyaraben boxed-lunch making activity where media guest and their children joined Ajinomoto’s Culinary Nutrition team in making delicious meals that are a feast to both the eyes and the tongue.

As a food company, Ajinomoto utilizes its technical expertise to enhance the quality of life of Filipinos by offering delicious, safe and quality food products and promoting proper nutrition and healthy lifestyle. 

Kids also had fun playing at the giant inflatable Rainbow Slide, where they bonded and glided with Hetty and their playmates at the Jollitown’s most colorful park. Rainbow Slide

When we think about how many Filipino families spend quality bonding time in Jollibee, we came up with an idea to have an annual celebration for our Jolly Kids. This Children’s Month, we have the National Jolly Kids Day event to provide a venue for families to experience more joy-filled moments with their kids, and at the same time our Jolly Kids get to make new friends in a fun environment. - Ms. Charisse Sumulong, Jollibee Senior Marketing Manager & Head for Channels and Kids Marketing 

Chloe and Ricci received Jollibee giveaways after they completed tasks and had fun visiting all the booth activities and collecting stamps at each station.

#NationalJollyKidsDay | #ProudJollyKid

Being an IT professional is not an easy task. My days at work are always quite busy, and there are times that even I was already at home IT works do follow me. Sometimes there's no escaping it making it hard for me to attend to my other personal tasks like paying the bills, taxes, online transactions, and other stuff.

Hardly do I ever find the time to go to a physical bank for my transactions because doing so takes too long every single time. The travel, the wait—it could get exhausting and frustrating and for sure my lunch break would not suffice.

That was until I discovered a mobile wallet GCash. My wife, raves so much about it; saying it’s super convenient, that paying the bills would be quick, and no more waiting in vain for long lines. Gcash is more than just a mobile wallet because transferring funds to all the major banks are doable here too!

GCash App on Android Phone

Bank Transfer and Paying the Bills in the jiffy is what got me Sold to downloading the app. I could also link my bank account to cash in and use the app to move funds to my layaway account!

I have already tried doing bank transfers through GCash and it was pretty amazing! I loaded my GCash with funds from my payroll account too, so that paying our household bills won't be too much stress for the wifey. and yep! She's happy! + the Send Money to Bank Account option is such a wonder too. GCash is linked to more than 40 banks, so most people would surely find their bank there and use the app for transactions.

There's also an option for savings called GSave, a tool that will help us remain committed to one's financial goals and has made saving so easy. This savings platform on the app, so that’s another avenue for me to save funds for my future.  

Thanks, Gcash for you really made our adulting tasks easier these days. Such as “lifesaver” for us too! Because now, I can use my time not for waiting in long lines, or traveling going to banks and another establishment to pay stuff but to do more about my precious time, to bond with my family.